Peach Pulse Archive 2026
What’s Inside This Month’s Peach Pulse?
The legislative session is moving fast, federal policy changes have put coverage at risk for hundreds of thousands of Georgians, and our team has been busy producing new tools and resources to keep you informed and ready to act. Here is what we have for you this month:
- Legislative Updates: Budget negotiations are in the final stretch, and Crossover Day is just around the corner. We are tracking committee activity, bill movement, and what it all means for health care access in Georgia. Read the latest legislative updates on our blog.
- Read, Reflect, Act: GHF’s Latest Publications and Resources: This month, we’re sharing:
- Our new policy brief on what rising costs and federal policy changes mean for Georgia Access enrollees
- What to do if you missed Open Enrollment, and how a Special Enrollment Period might help
- GHF Leadership Recognized for Health Equity Work: GHF’s Executive Director, Laura Colbert, is a finalist for a major health equity award.
- How to stay connected with Cover Georgia and join the push to close Georgia’s coverage gap
- Power our work this session: Your support helps us track legislation, share timely updates, and advocate for policies that expand access to care across Georgia. Every gift makes a difference during this critical time.
- GHF in the News: Recent coverage from GPB, WABE, and more!
What’s Inside This Month’s Peach Pulse?
Here’s what’s inside this month’s Peach Pulse:
- Legislative Updates: We’re tracking early bill movement, committee activity, and what it all means for health care access in Georgia. Catch up on the first two legislative updates of the session to stay in the loop. Read the latest legislative updates on our blog.
- Read, Reflect, Act: GHF’s Latest Publications & Resources:
This month, we’re sharing:- A recap of Health Care Unscrambled 2026, including highlights from our legislative panel and keynote discussion with Katie Keith
- How rising health insurance costs are affecting Georgia families and why your story matters
- New insights into the challenges family caregivers are facing and why caregiver support matters now more than ever
- How to stay connected with Cover Georgia and join the push to close Georgia’s coverage gap
- Advocacy Days at the Capitol: Advocacy days are happening throughout the session. Check out upcoming opportunities to show up, speak out, and meet with lawmakers about the health care issues that matter most.
- Power our work this session: Your support helps us track legislation, share timely updates, and advocate for policies that expand access to care across Georgia. Every gift makes a difference during this critical time.
- GHF in the News: Recent coverage from Capital B ATL, GPB, HealthBeat, and more!
What’s Happening at the Capitol
The 2026 Georgia legislative session is underway, and we’re already seeing important developments on health care policy and funding.
Session kicked off with big questions about affordability. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol on January 13th, facing a changed health care landscape due to last year’s federal tax and budget bill (H.R.1). Governor Kemp delivered his State of the State address and released his budget proposals, which included investments in medical workforce training but left other major health care and coverage challenges unaddressed. We also hosted Health Care Unscrambled 2026, bringing together national experts and state lawmakers to discuss these challenges and consider state-led solutions. See more about HCU 2026 below!
Key bills from last session are back in play, including HB 291, legislation to certify community health workers, and SB 131, which would strengthen mental health parity enforcement. Read the Week 1 legislative update.
Budget week revealed health spending priorities. State agencies presented their funding requests during joint appropriations hearings, giving us early insights into health spending priorities for the year ahead. The Governor’s budget proposals show modest growth in health care spending, with new investments in behavioral health housing vouchers and crisis services, but notable gaps remain, particularly around coverage affordability and rural hospital support. Read the Week 2 legislative update.
Understanding Georgia’s Budget Timeline
Georgia’s budget process can be confusing. Here’s what you need to know:
Two Budgets, Two Years:
- Amended Fiscal Year 2026 = Updates to the current year’s budget (July 2025 – June 2026)
- Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 = Brand new budget for next year (July 2026 – June 30, 2027)
The Process:
- January: Governor proposes budgets; agencies explain their needs (we are here)
- February–March: Lawmakers debate and make changes
- March: Final budgets pass on the last day of session (Sine Die)
- April–May: Governor signs budgets into law
Why This Matters: The amended budget shows how Georgia is spending its reserves right now. The FY 2027 budget shows whether the state is preparing for long-term challenges or just short-term needs.
Our team is tracking committee activity, monitoring new legislation, and breaking down what it all means for Georgians. These weekly updates are your go-to resource for understanding what’s happening under the Gold Dome and how it connects to health care in your community.